The Respectables
The Respectables continue making great music nearly thirty years into their career with their latest single “The Power of Rock and Roll”. The title track from their most recent studio album is produced by longtime Rolling Stones associate Bernard Fowler and deserves a high profile spot beside the other sterling releases accompanying the Canadian unit’s long career. They know how to write, record, and perform uncluttered and genuine rock music and their penchant for doing so has attracted some stellar talent to contribute to their work. Guest guitarist Waddy Watchel appears on two of the album’s tracks and his addition to the title song elevates an already outstanding cut to an even higher level. In an era when many are writing obituaries for rock music, The Respectables are still chugging away, oblivious to changing fashions, and true to their roots.
Those roots run deep. Longtime rock fans will recognize the bluesy reach of this song though the muscular 4/4 swing of the track transposes that quality into a thoroughly modern and rock-oriented pose. Songs like this, however, are ultimately about the groove and The Respectables dig in deep from the outset. Stéphane Beaudin’s drumming is a likely one take performance – everything about his spot-on playing suggests this is a skin-beater who nails the feel and timing of this kind of material straight out of the gate. His rhythm section partner bassist Stéphane Dussault locks into his pulse from the first and proves just as unerring down the stretch.
The song’s video captures the joyful vibe of this track well. There is an assortment of on-location clips of the band members playing interspersed with studio footage. Fowler makes an appearance in the video as well during his brief vocal contributions to the song. The video embraces a lot of the standard turns you find in music clips like fast cuts, but there’s masterful use of color as well distinguishing the video. It’s satisfying eye candy and complements the song well.
Fowler’s aforementioned vocal contributions show his soulful R&B chops in fine fettle, but it’s Sébastien Plante’s singing that you’ll remember after the song ends. He underplays the verses just enough to make his lung-busting bray during the chorus stand out even more and there’s little to no question Plante is committed to every word and line of this track. His voice has a lightly weathered quality many will enjoy and suits the song’s character.
The Respectables have enjoyed a long run and it shows no signs of slowing down. The lineup has remained remarkably stable for a band almost three decades old and they bring the same sense of inspiration to their songwriting and performances they possessed as much younger men looking to prove themselves in the music world. “The Power of Rock ‘n’ Roll” has timeless verve that never goes out of date; as long as there are electric guitars to buy, places to plug them in, and amplifiers, this music will always be around and have a devoted following.
I-TUNES: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/the-power-of-rock-n-roll/1436860174
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Trace Whittaker
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
10/2019
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